WASHINGTON — An international scramble for the Arctic’s oil and gas resources accelerated yesterday when Canada responded to Russia’s recent sovereignty claims with a plan to build two military bases in the region. On a trip to the far north, the prime minister, Stephen Harper, said: ‘Canada’s new government understands that the first principle of Arctic sovereignty is: use it or lose it. Today’s announcements tell the world that Canada has a real, growing, long-term presence in the Arctic.’ An army training centre for 100 troops is to be built in Resolute Bay, and a deep-water port will be built on Baffin Island, to bolster Canada’s claim to ownership. The move comes a week after a Russian sub planted a flag on the Arctic seabed. Moscow claims rights to half the Arctic. The US, Norway and Denmark also have claims. A US state department official, speaking last week, signalled that Washington will not stand by in the face of what it sees as a Russian land-grab, though America’s position is complicated by its failure so far to sign the treaty of the seas. As Canada was making its move, Danish scientists were preparing to head […]